There’s something magical about a wedding at the Tampa Museum of Art. It is a modern masterpiece of glass and light sitting right on the Hillsborough River, offering couples a backdrop that feels both timeless and contemporary. For this wedding reception, Good Food Events + Catering transformed the museum’s clean, architectural lines into a vibrant celebration of art, flavor, and guest experience.
Cocktail Hour
As guests arrived, they were greeted with one of our favorite parts of any wedding, interaction and movement. Servers circulated with beautifully plated signature appetizers, creating an atmosphere that invited conversation and connection. From Smoked Gouda + Cheddar Grilled Cheese with Tomato-Basil Bisque Shooters to Ahi Tuna Sesame Cones and Beef Carpaccio Crostini, every bite was designed to be both elegant and approachable. Culinary art, served one tray at a time.
The Bar
No celebration is complete without a perfect cocktail. Guests sipped on the couple’s signature Espresso Martini, crafted with espresso provided by Cafe Ala Carte. Others enjoyed crisp white wines and craft cocktails from the full liquor bar. The mood was effortlessly sophisticated, the kind of evening where each detail feels personal, not posed.
Interactive Chef Attended Culinary Stations
As the sun set over downtown Tampa, dinner began with a twist on traditional reception service: interactive chef attended culinary stations. Our Southern Small Plates station invited guests to customize their dish, choosing between creamy white cheddar grits or basmati rice as the base for a selection of composed entrees like Charleston-Style Shrimp + Grits, Eggplant Étouffée, and Cabernet Braised Short Ribs. Each plate was built continuously by our station chefs, offering the experience of a restaurant kitchen within an event setting. This is the kind of detail that defines Good Food’s approach to Tampa Museum of Art wedding catering.
Nearby, the Raw Bar became an instant crowd favorite. Guests gathered to watch oysters shucked to order and sampled a curated spread of seafood, including Ahi Tuna Poke, Creole Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, and Heart of Palm Ceviche. Every element was chilled, garnished, and presented with care — a coastal nod to the couple’s Florida roots.
The energy carried into the night at the Dueling Slider Station, where guests could grab Southern Fried Chicken Sliders or Mini Bistro Burgers — each paired with signature sides like Smoked Gouda Mac-n-Cheese and Herb Roasted Potato Wedges. It was comfort food, refined — indulgent without being overdone.
From passed hors d’oeuvres to curated cocktails, every element of this Tampa Museum of Art wedding was crafted to encourage interaction and create a memorable dining experience. The museum’s sleek, modern design provided a stunning contrast to the warmth of the menu, reminding us that great events, like great art, are about balance, creativity, and connection.
Credits
Venue: Tampa Museum of Art
Catering: Good Food Events + Catering
Espresso for the Cocktails: Cafe Ala Carte
Planner: Taylor Falcon Events
Florist: 2 Birds Events
Entertainment: Bay Kings Band
Rentals: Kate Ryan Event Rentals